Feature Name

Gnome Shell Configurability

Summary

There is a lot of low hanging fruit that Fedora could provide over the upstream Gnome Shell,
which would help new users and entice disillusioned ones (from unity).
I'm proposing a judicious integration of some existing optional fedora components,
to cater for a wider array of user preferences.

Owner

Current status

Targeted release: [Fedora 17]

Last updated: Nov 10 2011

Percentage of completion: 0%

Detailed Description

With a few well chosen options and extensions to Gnome Shell, Fedora could be much more accessible to new and old users alike.
I realise that providing options is often a cop out, and a sign of misdesigned or incomplete software.
However it's a bit different with direct user interaction software like this, where the options
reflect the diverse preferences and experiences of the user base.

Perhaps we might change a couple of upstream defaults too to help transitioning users,
and I could mention my personal set of changes that I need to make, but the main
thing is to provide the options to the users.

As a very concrete example of this see the Linux Mint Gnome3 transition strategy.
They note there, some extensions they've developed and options presented to the user.
They also note the large uptake of their Gnome2 based distro from annoyed unity users.

gnome-shell-extension-alternate-tab.noarch : Classic Alt+Tab behavior. Window based instead of app based
gnome-shell-extension-alternative-status-menu.noarch : For those who want a power off item visible at all the time
gnome-shell-extension-workspace-indicator.noarch : Workspace Indicator
gnome-shell-extension-native-window-placement.noarch : Arrange windows in overview in a more native way
gnome-shell-extension-noim.noarch : A gnome-shell extension for removing the name and the IM status
gnome-shell-extension-noripple.noarch : A gnome-shell extension to disable hot corner ripple effects
gnome-shell-extension-remove-accessibility-icon.noarch : A gnome-shell extensions for removing the accessibility icon
gnome-shell-extension-remove-bluetooth-icon.noarch : A gnome-shell extension for removing the bluetooth icon
gnome-shell-extension-remove-volume-icon.noarch : A gnome-shell extension for removing the volume icon

Personally I would only change a couple of window management options,
but to cover all bases we would need a way for users to easily select/enable the above extensions
and options to make available and ideally integrate into the gnome-shell config settings proper.

Note also that we might change a couple of the defaults from upstream gnome shell too.
For example there weren't complaints when nautilus switched back from spatial mode by default
(I know that was an upstream change, but Fedora could have done the sensible thing anyway).

How To Test

This change will apply to all hardware now, given Features/Gnome_shell_software_rendering,
and apply to the default desktop build.
It will require users to interactively select all the new options
and verify that they work correctly.
Given the disparate set of options used by each person, and the
direct user iteraction changes of the feature, it's hoped
that testing of various combinations will happen "for free" as
the system is being developed.

User Experience

Most users should have their pet gnome-shell peeve addressed by this feature.
Ideally the options and extensions would be grouped into additional setting panel items

Dependencies

gnome-tweak-tool and external gnome-shell extensions

Contingency Plan

At least install gnome-tweak-tool by default and make it easily started with an "extra settings" config setting panel item

Documentation

I see minimal documentation required, as we can rely on the names and tips provided by each setting, and experimentation by the user.
This approach is used by the existing gnome shell settings. Actually I notice that the existing gnome-shell settings
are documented independently in help, but there is no link between the settings dialog and the help.
That's a separate issue that could be fixed upstream. In light of that we might augment the help
with any options/extensions we provide.

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